The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-29
LINCOLN'S OLD HOUSE.
Efforts to Preserve It Intact-Changes in It
Have Been Comparatively Few.

Efforts to Preserve It Intact Changes in It
Have Been Comparatively Few.
| Springfield Ill.,. Special to the Chicag go Herald
The board of trustees of the Lincoln home.
| stead-consisting of the Governor, the Secretary
| of State. State Treasurer, State Auditor and
| Superintendent OF Public instruction. and
| made SO by act of the last Legislature-rnet
| last Tuesday aud organized by electing Cover
| nor Oelesby president of the board and Auditor
| Swigert, secretary. the business Of the board
Is to carry out the provisions of the Dil whi CHI
provides for some repairs upon the old home
stead aud the appointment of a custodian.
Robert Lincoln has sent deed to the property
end the State will formally take possession at
once. The house stands the north
east corner of Jackson and South Eighth
streets, upon an elevation several feet above
the street and walled up with brick The
house in outward appearance is much as Lin
coin left 1t when called to the White House in
1860. 1t has been painted several times. but
always of the same color when occupied by
Llncoln-the desire being to preserve it it
was when 1t gave shelter to the great Emanci-
pator. 1t was purchased by Mr.. Lincoln in 1916
from Rev. DIR. Dresser, Episcopaiau minis
ter. 1t was then only one-story dwelling but
another story was added to it by Lincoln. Rob-
ert Lincoln has owned it since the assassina-
ton. Many efforts have been made by specula-
tors and adventures to purchase the property,
fers. having IN his mind probably that he would
ultimately deed it to the State and save it from
the rapacious grasp of money makers.
The house IS a plain. two-story structure. well
built and containing about ten rooms, which are
OF ordinary size. The two lower north rooms
are occupied with the relics and memorials of
Lincoln. about two Thousand in ALL consisting
or several old pieces of furniture used by the
family; the old cooking stove, which cooked the
last meal eaten by the Presidents and his family
before leaving for WashiDgton; law books and
Office furniture; the old family cradle in which
Robert heard the lullaby of sleep from his moth
er s lips; numerous small articles of small actual
value. but valuable the relics of one of
Americas historic characters; copies of all the
memorials, addresses and resolutions of condo
lence sent to Mrs. Lincoln from all parts of the
world; all the biographies of Lincoln; copies of
the comic and serious pictures of the war
period and Mr.. Lincoln; a stand made of wood
taken from Lincoln's boarding house at Old
Salem; campaign badges and devices of all sorts;
25O medals, of every conceivable design; busts,
both small and large; letters from Grant, Han
cock Morton. Wade, and hundreds of other IL
lustrlous men, testfylng to the greatness of
Lincoln; bits Of Lncoln's garments, and other
things too numerous to mention. The furniture
in these two rooms is arranged as near as posi-
BILE as it was when the delegation from the Re-
publican national convention came to formally
acqualnt Mr. Lincoln with the fact of his nomi-
patton. Mr.. Lincoln stood in the double door
way leading from the front to the back room,
leaning his hand upon common stand and
looking to the west, the committee having ar
ranged itself about the room in front of him.
After the formal address had been made and
Mr.. Lincoln had signifed his acceptance of the
trust the committeeman congratulated him,
and the pubic were admitted, coming IN the
front door, passing to the south side of the table
and going out the back door, 1t is related of
Mr.. Lincoln that he playing ball North
Sixth steeet, between two brick business houses
when the message announcing his nomination by
the Chicago Repu blican convention was handed
him. After reading it he walked away, saying:
This bit of news must go my wife"
The old Lincoln homestead is object
of interest," not only to people of Springfield, but
to thousands of strangers who annually come
here. No visit TO the Flower City is deemed
complete until the Lincoln house ia seen both in
and out. All societies and conventions holding
sessions here are sure to go in body to the
house and view its relics. The house is now
cupied by O. H Oldroyd. local merchant. He
moved into the house about two years ago. DIR.
Wendandt lived in it previous to Mr.. Oldroyd.
and previous to Dr. Wendlandt, Colonel Har-
many years Mr. Oldroyd originally from
Ohio, coming to Springfield about sixteen years
E of the Twentieth Ohio Regiment
in the late rebellion. He has always
had predisposition to collecting relics,
and began to humor this characteristic away
back in the sixties by collecting old firearms.
swords and battle mementoes. When Lincoln
died he began tho work of getting together any
and everything pertaining to the martyred
President. He has steadily gons adding
until to-day he has a large and valuable collec
ton. He understood time before the
meeting of the last Legislature what Robert
.Lincoln's intentions were in reference TO the
final disposition of the property, and went to
work to bring it about. A resolution Of
suggestion of MIR. Oldroyd. for the purpose
of ascertaining upon what terms the State
could acquire possession of the old Lincoln
homestead and also of the memorial collection
now in the house. A committee appon ted
with Representative Bogardus chairman. to
see Mr.. Lincoln and ascertain his wishes and
also what terms could be made with Mr..
Oldroyd for keeping his collection in the house.
Mr.. Lincoln agreed to deed the property to the
State upon the condition that the property
would be preserved, kept in order aud free of
access to all VINO wished to visit it. Mr.
Oldroyd made proposition the committee
that if he appointed custodian he would
keep his collection in the house and deed the
property To the State at his death. He also
salary of 81, 800 a year. The committees report
was accepted, and a resolution prepared and
introduced accepting Mr.. Lincoln's proposition
and providing for the retention of the Oldroyd
collection in the house. although not naming Mr.
Oldroyd as custodian. The resolution had
reached second reading In the Senate when
Senator Curtis offered substitute, which pro-
vded that the custodian should be crippled
Illinois soldier This failed. and the bill passed
as originally introduced. The trustees have been
of the opinion that salary of ST 500 year was
too large, and that the amount of So 800 pro-
vided for by the bill. would not allow them to
pay the custodian 81, 500 year, and it is upon
this point that the trustees have hestated to
make the appointment of custodian.
Crops on Tiled Land.
Correspondence Chicago Times
The Times of Saturday Aug. 6, contained an
interesting article upon the subject of tile drain